AIQF 2017 Tír Eoghain vs Ard Macha, Sat. August 5th @4pm

[tyroneman]

I echo the comments on the train.I took the train today,one of the three specials.Fine on the way down,but a nightmare coming home.I was on the last train from Connolly (supposed to be departing at 9.20pm,left at 9.40pm,took a full hour to get to Drogheda.Young and not so young carrying parcels of drink (is there any other form of public transport that would allow this), and Liverpool fans on the train as well,and sadly copious amounts of sectarian songs being sung as the mainly young ones downed the alcohol.Also only for the intervention of a couple of wiser heads,there would have been fights breaking out too.Never again will I use a "GAA special", this is not the image GAA should be sending out,I was disgusted,God knows what anyone on the train of a non GAA disposition felt.

From chatting to Armagh ones from around the city there seems to be a scummer element from the Portadown/Lurgan contingent that can't go to any match without a feed of drink.

There is a sense of "I'd like to see them take the drink off us". They are probably right in that. But eventually translink/NIR might just say they won't bother with the GAA special and properly police the normal train. There is no automatic right to have a train put on for you so that you can behave like a lout.

All translink need to do is ban carry outs and restrict the bar to 1 drink per person per serve. There were ones bringing 2 crates of beer with them on board ffs.

[LCohen]

Hatre's pre match bull shit appears to have worked with Gough. Armagh can't buy a free. I thought he was the best ref in the country. He is a cheat

Lol wise up and listen to yourself. Maybe Armagh could just learn to tackle?

In the second match it seemed like if three Dubs surrounded a  Monaghan player then the ref gave a free to the Farney. Quite the opposite in the first match.

This is something that annoys my head. I even mentioned it last week in a post. It seems with some referees that if you tackle 1 on 1 and tug a jersey it is a yellow card but if 3 or 4 thump the crap out of someone it is the player with the ball who is doing the fouling. It is a blight on the game. Save the choke tackle for Rugby. It also highlights another inconsistency in refereeing. I prefer the way Lane referees this - and mentioned Sean Hurson in an earlier post.

I agree it's horrible to watch. But not illegal. No point complaining about it unless it's a rule change you are proposing.

Surely the bigger thing for us is why are we carrying the ball into that situation with such a high degree of regularity? Everything Tyrone did was predictable. Everything we did seemed to based on hoping that we could mimic them off the pitch based upon 6 days preparation. Foolhardy is putting it kindly

[LCohen]

I echo the comments on the train.I took the train today,one of the three specials.Fine on the way down,but a nightmare coming home.I was on the last train from Connolly (supposed to be departing at 9.20pm,left at 9.40pm,took a full hour to get to Drogheda.Young and not so young carrying parcels of drink (is there any other form of public transport that would allow this), and Liverpool fans on the train as well,and sadly copious amounts of sectarian songs being sung as the mainly young ones downed the alcohol.Also only for the intervention of a couple of wiser heads,there would have been fights breaking out too.Never again will I use a "GAA special", this is not the image GAA should be sending out,I was disgusted,God knows what anyone on the train of a non GAA disposition felt.

From chatting to Armagh ones from around the city there seems to be a scummer element from the Portadown/Lurgan contingent that can't go to any match without a feed of drink.

There is a sense of "I'd like to see them take the drink off us". They are probably right in that. But eventually translink/NIR might just say they won't bother with the GAA special and properly police the normal train. There is no automatic right to have a train put on for you so that you can behave like a lout.

All translink need to do is ban carry outs and restrict the bar to 1 drink per person per serve. There were ones bringing 2 crates of beer with them on board ffs.

It's only a matter of time before some YouTube footage makes us all embarrassed and translink's position difficult

[LurganHoop]

Men against boys yesterday...it was always going to be a tall order for armagh to even make a game of it. Still the manner of the defeat is extremely disappointing. Tyrone are some outfit and I would love to see them beat Dublin. Can't wait for the game. Not a lot to say about Armagh that hasn't been said. Some positives to be taken from the season as a whole but we have a lot of work to do to be a team that regularly makes the quarter finals. I do believe however we have a set of players who can achieve that in a few years time.
I thought the knee McCann took to the head looked like an accident...I'm sure Harte will be annoyed with McCarron as he now misses the semi final?
One tiny complaint about the ref! Ball was hopped in the first half when Armagh were taking too long to take a feee yet he allowed Morgan the time to stroll up the pitch to take a few? Winds me up!!
Anyway goodluck to Tyrone in the semi final

[LCohen]

Men against boys yesterday...it was always going to be a tall order for armagh to even make a game of it. Still the manner of the defeat is extremely disappointing. Tyrone are some outfit and I would love to see them beat Dublin. Can't wait for the game. Not a lot to say about Armagh that hasn't been said. Some positives to be taken from the season as a whole but we have a lot of work to do to be a team that regularly makes the quarter finals. I do believe however we have a set of players who can achieve that in a few years time.
I thought the knee McCann took to the head looked like an accident...I'm sure Harte will be annoyed with McCarron as he now misses the semi final?
One tiny complaint about the ref! Ball was hopped in the first half when Armagh were taking too long to take a feee yet he allowed Morgan the time to stroll up the pitch to take a few? Winds me up!!
Anyway goodluck to Tyrone in the semi final

Grimley's wasn't a free. It was a mark. He has 5 seconds and must take it himself. Ref was right

[Throw ball]

Have not bothered to read through all the posts as I am sure among the sensible posts there is plenty of wind up.

As an Armagh man I feared this could happen. When I looked at the subs listed in the programme 3 had never played championship football - 2 had no league football either - and another - Dyas - had not played football in 2 years. We were down to the bear bones. On the other hand Michael Cassidy was the only complete newbie on the Tyrone panel.

For me to beat Tyrone you need either an early lead to draw them out or replicate their system. Armagh hadn't time to work on the latter and started too nervously to get a lead. Once Tyrone get the lead and you have to come out their pace will really catch you on the break. Additionally many Armagh players do not have the upper body strength the Tyrone players have to break tackles. At least that can be worked on.

If Tyrone are to beat Dublin they will have to play much better. They may have been playing a division 3 team but there were long periods when Armagh controlled the ball and they wasted an incredible amount of chances. You wouldn't expect Dublin to be that generous. As a said earlier in the week though I hate the way Tyrone play. It is mighty effective though and Tyrone have never much cared what outsiders think. That is one of their strengths.

All in all a better year for Armagh than expected. We will only learn if today is a failure if they fail to learn from it.

On a completely separate note the black card is driving me mad. Shields card was obvious. Grugan I thought was dreadfully unlucky. For me he slipped on the Croke Park surface and accidentally caught the Tyrone player. Too much is left to interpretation. I didn't even know Sheridan had been carded until I got home! Meanwhile early in the first half McGeary hand tripped O'Hanlon along the sideline off the ball in front of the linesman. Considering how Clarke got carded a few matches ago it is extremely frustrating.

Totally disagree that you have to match them up. I watched the Dublin tactic of width. If a corner forward tracked his man back the wing forward jogged into the corner. When Dublin got the ball they knew they were guaranteed to have an attack the full width of the pitch and the sweepers couldn't cover them all. This isn't wise after the event. It was called out before and the 2 games yesterday amongst other things proved it to be correct

The problem is Dublin have better players technically and physically and have been perfecting this over a number of years playing at a higher level. For a number of reasons Armagh had only a week to plan.

[LCohen]

Have not bothered to read through all the posts as I am sure among the sensible posts there is plenty of wind up.

As an Armagh man I feared this could happen. When I looked at the subs listed in the programme 3 had never played championship football - 2 had no league football either - and another - Dyas - had not played football in 2 years. We were down to the bear bones. On the other hand Michael Cassidy was the only complete newbie on the Tyrone panel.

For me to beat Tyrone you need either an early lead to draw them out or replicate their system. Armagh hadn't time to work on the latter and started too nervously to get a lead. Once Tyrone get the lead and you have to come out their pace will really catch you on the break. Additionally many Armagh players do not have the upper body strength the Tyrone players have to break tackles. At least that can be worked on.

If Tyrone are to beat Dublin they will have to play much better. They may have been playing a division 3 team but there were long periods when Armagh controlled the ball and they wasted an incredible amount of chances. You wouldn't expect Dublin to be that generous. As a said earlier in the week though I hate the way Tyrone play. It is mighty effective though and Tyrone have never much cared what outsiders think. That is one of their strengths.

All in all a better year for Armagh than expected. We will only learn if today is a failure if they fail to learn from it.

On a completely separate note the black card is driving me mad. Shields card was obvious. Grugan I thought was dreadfully unlucky. For me he slipped on the Croke Park surface and accidentally caught the Tyrone player. Too much is left to interpretation. I didn't even know Sheridan had been carded until I got home! Meanwhile early in the first half McGeary hand tripped O'Hanlon along the sideline off the ball in front of the linesman. Considering how Clarke got carded a few matches ago it is extremely frustrating.

Totally disagree that you have to match them up. I watched the Dublin tactic of width. If a corner forward tracked his man back the wing forward jogged into the corner. When Dublin got the ball they knew they were guaranteed to have an attack the full width of the pitch and the sweepers couldn't cover them all. This isn't wise after the event. It was called out before and the 2 games yesterday amongst other things proved it to be correct

The problem is Dublin have better players technically and physically and have been perfecting this over a number of years playing at a higher level. For a number of reasons Armagh had only a week to plan.

In what sense are Dublin more technically capable of jogging wide to retain width?

[Throw ball]

I echo the comments on the train.I took the train today,one of the three specials.Fine on the way down,but a nightmare coming home.I was on the last train from Connolly (supposed to be departing at 9.20pm,left at 9.40pm,took a full hour to get to Drogheda.Young and not so young carrying parcels of drink (is there any other form of public transport that would allow this), and Liverpool fans on the train as well,and sadly copious amounts of sectarian songs being sung as the mainly young ones downed the alcohol.Also only for the intervention of a couple of wiser heads,there would have been fights breaking out too.Never again will I use a "GAA special", this is not the image GAA should be sending out,I was disgusted,God knows what anyone on the train of a non GAA disposition felt.

From chatting to Armagh ones from around the city there seems to be a scummer element from the Portadown/Lurgan contingent that can't go to any match without a feed of drink.

There is a sense of "I'd like to see them take the drink off us". They are probably right in that. But eventually translink/NIR might just say they won't bother with the GAA special and properly police the normal train. There is no automatic right to have a train put on for you so that you can behave like a lout.

All translink need to do is ban carry outs and restrict the bar to 1 drink per person per serve. There were ones bringing 2 crates of beer with them on board ffs.

It's only a matter of time before some YouTube footage makes us all embarrassed and translink's position difficult

Another thing that annoys me. Go to a match, have a few drinks no problem. But why get so strong that you annoy the head of everyone and not remember or care about the game. If you want to do that stay in the pub. The ticket price will buy a few more drinks.

[Fuzzman]

I'd agree with Bennydorano that there is a huge gap between the top 4 teams and those below and its probably getting wider.
It's almost like it's a different sport or level of sport with how they approach the game. I think Mayo showed last year and this year that they normally operate at a level below Kerry and Dubs but they showed they are capable of a big performance and I suppose Tyrone are hoping they too can raise it.
They certainly did a lot of sloppy play yesterday which the huge scoreline hides and have loads to work on with dome very unforced kicking errors into nobody.

I was pleased to see Mulgrew come back in and prove me wrong as I've never really saw him do a wile lot before that. McCurry still blows hot and cold with some awful shot attempts.
Mattie had huge possession stats again yesterday but didn't seem to do a lot in the game.
McClure played well I thought but seemed to get a lot of hard hits.
Re the train home. I'd say most people knew that would happen and TransLink thought keep all the GAA ones in their own train to stop other passengers complaining or being harassed. They could possibility make 2 carriages alcohol free

[LCohen]

12 long years patiently waiting for another Croke Park showdown to right the injustice of 05 when Russell,in an attempt to curry favour with Tyrone for 1995,awarded Tyrone a match winning easy free.

This match is winnable,imagine the karma of sending Harte and Cavanagh into retirement prematurely

I really don't care what happens Tyrone.

It's another step up for us and a bigger step than the ones negotiated in recent weeks.

The big question is do we stick with the open attractive football that has got us this far against potentially the best defence/defensive system in the country? Or do we try to match them. I think we have to do the former and be clever about it. Rain a few high balls down on the square so that Colm can't stray too far from goal. Put Clarke and Campbell wide. If Tyrone want to go man for man on them that's fine by me. If they want to put a sweeper in front of them then the 3 sweepers across the full width of the Full back line is going to give them problems elsewhere.

Cut down the fouls and keep the width and we have a chance. Fail to either of those and I would fear for us.

Found it. We did nothing remotely close to this.

[Throw ball]

My point Lcohen is that Armagh have been training to play a certain way. That changes against Tyrone. Dublin have been preparing to face Tyrone all year just as Tyrone have been training to face them. Armagh are physically not on the same level as either.  It is true that creating width helps beat the blanket but Tyrone suffocate the centre area. Shots from wide areas are more difficult to take. If you get ahead early and draw them out then the width will create more space in attack. Dublin are usually ahead. They may find it much more difficult against Tyrone.

[tonto1888]

Men against boys yesterday...it was always going to be a tall order for armagh to even make a game of it. Still the manner of the defeat is extremely disappointing. Tyrone are some outfit and I would love to see them beat Dublin. Can't wait for the game. Not a lot to say about Armagh that hasn't been said. Some positives to be taken from the season as a whole but we have a lot of work to do to be a team that regularly makes the quarter finals. I do believe however we have a set of players who can achieve that in a few years time.
I thought the knee McCann took to the head looked like an accident...I'm sure Harte will be annoyed with McCarron as he now misses the semi final?
One tiny complaint about the ref! Ball was hopped in the first half when Armagh were taking too long to take a feee yet he allowed Morgan the time to stroll up the pitch to take a few? Winds me up!!
Anyway goodluck to Tyrone in the semi final

Grimley's wasn't a free. It was a mark. He has 5 seconds and must take it himself. Ref was right

I did wonder about that. Cheers for clearing it up. I'd say the one were he hopped the ball after Donaghu caught the kick out was baffling

[seafoid]

Very much men against boys. Div 3 vs Top 3.

As I said previously I really didn't understand how Armagh were being given so much credit from (just) beating average teams while Tyrone were being dismissed as not having been tested.

Tyrone dispatched whoever they met with aplomb. You can't ask for more than that.

Armagh really need to settle on a system that works for their players and then get it ingrained over a number of years.

I still think we are a marquee forward or two away from beating the Dubs/Kerry but anything can happen on the day....

Good to see that on a day where many players were poor (compared to normal) we had players stepping off the bench to power us on.

Hope the injury to big Colly isn't too bad. Hospital pass he was given.

So much for renaissance man Clarke. He was never going to get the time and space Kildare offered him and he seemed to be quite frustrated by the end.

You can ask for more than that Aplomb and custard.

[LCohen]

My point Lcohen is that Armagh have been training to play a certain way. That changes against Tyrone. Dublin have been preparing to face Tyrone all year just as Tyrone have been training to face them. Armagh are physically not on the same level as either.  It is true that creating width helps beat the blanket but Tyrone suffocate the centre area. Shots from wide areas are more difficult to take. If you get ahead early and draw them out then the width will create more space in attack. Dublin are usually ahead. They may find it much more difficult against Tyrone.

To confuse width in the attack with taking shots from out wide misses the point entirely

[LCohen]

Men against boys yesterday...it was always going to be a tall order for armagh to even make a game of it. Still the manner of the defeat is extremely disappointing. Tyrone are some outfit and I would love to see them beat Dublin. Can't wait for the game. Not a lot to say about Armagh that hasn't been said. Some positives to be taken from the season as a whole but we have a lot of work to do to be a team that regularly makes the quarter finals. I do believe however we have a set of players who can achieve that in a few years time.
I thought the knee McCann took to the head looked like an accident...I'm sure Harte will be annoyed with McCarron as he now misses the semi final?
One tiny complaint about the ref! Ball was hopped in the first half when Armagh were taking too long to take a feee yet he allowed Morgan the time to stroll up the pitch to take a few? Winds me up!!
Anyway goodluck to Tyrone in the semi final

Grimley's wasn't a free. It was a mark. He has 5 seconds and must take it himself. Ref was right

I did wonder about that. Cheers for clearing it up. I'd say the one were he hopped the ball after Donaghu caught the kick out was baffling

Standing inside the D when the ball was kicked